North vs South

booboo

so, two trophies up for grabs...looks a little fragile

Be ok as long as SI don't win it. Too many Saders.

mariner4life

god, at least there is one you can smash beers out of

Kiwiwomble

@Kiwiwomble said in North vs South:

smith not starting the only surprise for me

Aaron Smith played a huge number of minutes for the Highlanders, is 31 and is clearly the Half Back in NZ. I can understand the AB selectors trying to manage his workload.

...probably the least amount of rugby he's played in a decade

sparky

@Kiwiwomble The other point to consider is, by the next RWC in 2023, Aaron Smith who will be nearly 34 may be used as a finisher by the ABs.. No harm in giving him experience being one.

I'm as disappointed as anyone that Aaron Smith is not in the North starting XV, but I can understand the selectors looking ahead a bit.

Bovidae

TJP better have one of his "good" passing days.

Stargazer

@Tim said in North vs South:

@Hooroo

It doesn't look like it's going to be as bad as in 1980 (Palmerston North):

Tim

@sparky said in North vs South:

@Kiwiwomble The other point to consider is, by the next RWC in 2023, Aaron Smith who will be nearly 34 may be used as a finisher by the ABs.. No harm in giving him experience being one.

I'm as disappointed as anyone that Aaron Smith is not in the North starting XV, but I can understand the selectors looking ahead a bit.

Three years out from the world cup, least rugby played in the professional era - we've got to protect our senior players!

Don't be such a cuck.

mariner4life

@Stargazer nothing is ever as bad as Palmerston north

mariner4life

@Tim said in North vs South:

@sparky said in North vs South:

@Kiwiwomble The other point to consider is, by the next RWC in 2023, Aaron Smith who will be nearly 34 may be used as a finisher by the ABs.. No harm in giving him experience being one.

I'm as disappointed as anyone that Aaron Smith is not in the North starting XV, but I can understand the selectors looking ahead a bit.

Three years out from the world cup, least rugby played in the professional era - we've got to protect our senior players!

Don't be such a cuck.

alt text

sparky

@Tim It's a four year cycle, almost every decision International selectors/coaches make will to some extent be about the next RWC.

sparky

Like the look of the North team. Mixture of experienced pros and exciting young talent. Solid tight five. Powerful back row, TJP-BB reuniting, Reiko's chance to nail down the ABs 12 jersey, super fast Wings.

I'm a little concerned about DMac at 15 who was mediocre for the Chiefs in Super Rugby Aotearoa (not sure he scored a try). Hope he goes okay.

Nepia

@sparky said in North vs South:

I'm a little concerned about DMac at 15 who was mediocre for the Chiefs in Super Rugby Aotearoa (not sure he scored a try). Hope he goes okay.

Not sure if he scored a try but he was playing for the Chiefs so there weren't really too many opportunities. He did have the most carries, the second most metres (I think they only calculate the ones going forward ), squeaked into the top 10 of most defenders beaten ... so he might be okay, especially as he's not surrounded by Gatland coached Chiefs players.

Yeetyaah

If the south win then we know the trophies will be fucked by the next week.

Bones

@Tim said in North vs South:

Right, got it. Lets start a 20 yo lock who is clearly substandard at Super Rugby level

No

@Tim said in North vs South:

Aaron Smith is on fire at the moment, so we'll put him on the bench. That should get the fans really pumped!

Yes

MN5

@mariner4life said in North vs South:

@Stargazer nothing is ever as bad as Palmerston north

I'm here right now.

Can confirm.

Bones

Lucky I didn't read the south team first and see Goodhue named at twelve and piss myself laughing. The comedown upon seeing Perenara starting would have been horrific.

Barring a Mounga miracle, North have this.

nzzp

@Bones said in North vs South:

Barring a Mounga miracle, North have this.

South tight 5 look pretty good. A good tight 5 and 10 and yuo're in every game.

pakman

@Bovidae said in North vs South:

@Duluth said in North vs South:

Vaa'i getting a start is a surprise

I would agree. The same for Christie over Hunt in the SI team. The SI has a lot of Crusaders' combos which will be an advantage. Favourites!

Here are the players that aren't in the match-day squads:

NI
Kurt Eklund, Alex Fidow, Lachlan Boshier, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Mark Telea

SI
Andrew Makalio, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Reed Prinsep, Mitchell Drummond, Sio Tomkinson

North has stronger rejects!

Stargazer

Grant Fox explains the selections for North v South match (audio is different from text)

ACT Crusader

@Nepia said in North vs South:

@sparky said in North vs South:

I'm a little concerned about DMac at 15 who was mediocre for the Chiefs in Super Rugby Aotearoa (not sure he scored a try). Hope he goes okay.

Not sure if he scored a try but he was playing for the Chiefs so there weren't really too many opportunities. He did have the most carries, the second most metres (I think they only calculate the ones going forward ), squeaked into the top 10 of most defenders beaten ... so he might be okay, especially as he's not surrounded by Gatland coached Chiefs players.

Most carries for DMac = more opportunities to stuff it up.

I’m not a hater but he was very poor this year.

The Silver Fern

North vs South